An endangered civilisation, an autocratic ruler, an immortal warrior, the promise of a saviour — Kalki 2898 AD has gathered all the elements for a thrilling ride in its sequel.
The film’s climax delivers a cliffhanger along with a good deal of intrigue in the mid-credits scene, and we can definitely wait for Part 2 of Kalki 2898 AD to give us an epic showdown between the three important characters — Yaskin, Ashwatthama and Bhairava. That still leaves us groping for answers.
What is the conflict in Kalki 2898 AD all about?
A messiah called Kalki is set to be born in the near future of a dystopian world, and Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan), an immortal warrior, is assigned the task of protecting him.
There are forces that don’t want the child to see the light of day, like Commander Manas (Saswata Chatterjee) who leads the evil Complex and, at the behest of Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan), is hunting for Sumati (Deepika Padukone), a pregnant woman under the watch of Ashwatthama.
With Kalki 2898 AD, director Nag Ashwin has only set the stage for the grand arrival of Kalki and the dangers lurking around it.
Who is Kalki in Kalki 2898 AD?
The rebels fighting against Yaskin, and Ashwatthama believe that Sumati is carrying Kalki, the prophesied tenth avatar of Vishnu. Astronomical alignments, Ashwatthama regaining the gemstone that Lord Krishna had taken away from him after the Battle of Kurukshetra, and the occurrence of rain in Shambala all point towards the possibility that Sumati is the mother of the prophesied messiah.
Could Bhairava be Kalki?
The final battle between Ashwatthama and the Complex forces reveal a hidden truth. Bhairava (Prabhas), the bounty hunter initially working for the Complex, goes into a trance after a cryptic encounter with Ashwatthama. This crucial moment is further emphasised by a flashback showcasing Bhairava wielding a celestial weapon that belonged to Karna, Ashwatthama's closest friend in the Mahabharata. The big reveal — Bhairava is the reincarnation of Karna.
Is Supreme Yaskin an incarnation of Kali?
In the mid-credits scene, we see a frail and emaciated Supreme Yaskin, the enigmatic leader of the Complex, take a drop of the mysterious serum extracted earlier from Sumati. Yaskin undergoes a dramatic transformation, his body regains its vigour and his eyes blaze with renewed power. He declares that he will stop Sumati from giving birth to her child.
This establishes Yaskin as the main antagonist for the sequel, hinting that he could be an incarnation of the demon Kali (not to be confused with goddess Kali).
What is Project K and what power does the serum hold?
The film doesn't explain what Project K is or what the properties of the serum extracted from Sumati are. What we know is that the serum enhances the power of the person who takes it, and going by its implications, Supreme Yaskin stands to be invincible through it.
What will happen to Sumati?
At the end of the clash at Shambala, we see Bhairava snap out of his trance and capture Sumati. Although he makes his way out of Shambala, we can see his confusion-streaked face. He absorbs the fact that he has had an epiphany about his past life. One can only expect him to realise his true identity and turn into Sumati’s saviour in the sequel. And since Ashwatthama and Karna were friends in the Mahabharata, he might even team up with Ashwatthama to guard the life of the unborn avatar.
